Egypt Accuses Hamas of Attack that Killed 16

Mohamed Ibrahim, Egypt's Interior Minister, on Thursday accused Hamas of being involved in the bombing of police headquarters in Mansoura last Monday that killed 16.

Ibrahim announced that seven suspects have been apprehended, including Muslim Brotherhood members. The minister further said the bombers received logistical support from Hamas, detailing Muslim Brotherhood connections with the Gazan terror group, reports Al-Ahram.

Several of the arrested Muslim Brotherhood members entered Gaza through tunnels, according to Ibrahim, and there received training.

On Wednesday, analyst Mark Langfan noted Hamas's involvement in the Mansoura attack, arguing that Egypt needs to fight against Hamas in order to secure itself.

Egypt's interim Prime Minister Hazem El-Beblawi previously declared the Mansoura attack an act of terrorism, pledging that "the state will do its utmost to pursue the criminals who executed, planned and supported that attack."

Ousted President Mohammed Morsi has been charged with involvement in Hamas terror attacks. Ibrahim asserted that the "Brotherhood allied with the extremist groups during Morsi's one-year-rule."

For its part, Hamas has denied involvement in any attacks in Egypt, with spokesman Sami Abu-Zuhri saying "the accusations of involvement in the Mansoura bombing are an attempt to export the internal Egyptian crisis."

However, reports recently revealed that Hamas planned attacks on Egyptian Christians in Sinai, timed to occur on Christmas.

A referendum on Egypt's constitution is set to be held in mid January, as tension is mounting along the divide between the military and Muslim Brotherhood.